This thesis on "The status of persons with disabilities in the labor market in the Czech Republic" deals

with unemployment of people with disabilities. It explores the evolution of the social approach to
persons with disabilities, that in the course of history changed attitudes of rejection in tolerant attitude.
Today, the status of a group of people with disabilities is affected by broader social aspects, which
include social consciousness and a focus of national policies. The status of these groups of people are
also shaped by other influences, including lack of education, the existence of barriers, ignorance of
employers and low motivation. Employment has many meanings to humans in the form of financial
security, social contact or as the creator of the daily regime. It is important to ensure that vulnerable
groups in the labor market have the same opportunities as non-handicapped. In the Czech Republic there
are measures that serve to promote the employment of vulnerable groups, which include a group of
people with physicall disabilities. These measures include vocational rehabilitation, advice, retraining
and sheltered employment. Non-profit organizations provide employment services to unemployed
persons with disabilities. An important role is also played by recommendations from the European
Union. Despite these efforts within the Czech Republic 40 % of people with disabilities are still
unemployed. Based on interviews with persons with disabilities, I propose a generally applicable
definition under which it would be possible to keep statistics on unemployment of people with physical
handicaps, increase the motivation of employers and employees with higher awareness and bring the
topic of unemployment of persons with physical handicaps into mainstream policies.